Process of filling bags.



PATENTED NOV. 5,1907.

A. M. BATES.

PROCESS OF FILLING BAGS".

APPLICATION FILED AUG.16.1902.

w w n IJ/Wu UNITED @ClfAiIiiS PATIGIQT OIFFIQE.

ADELMER M. BATES, OF CLEVELAND, OHIO, ASSIGNOR TO BAT ES VALVE BAG COMPANY, OF

CLEVELAND, OHIO, A CORPORATION OF WEST VIRGINIA. u i

PROCESS OF FILLING BAGS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Nov. 5, 1907.

Application filed August 16. 1902. Serial No. 119.853.

a certain new and useful' Improvement in Processes of Filling Bags, of which the following is a specification. Filling bags which are provided with small apertures in lieu of the ordinary large opening of the bag, which is commonly of the same cross section as the bag itself,

presents many difficulties, and various machines have been devised by myself for overcoming these difficulties. ered the processes involved. Some of these difliculties are peculiar to valve bags, though some of the difficulties are equally present when the bag to be filled has a narrow aperture which is not a valve aperture, but an aperture intended to be gummed or glued together, or to be closed by exterior wrapping twine or the like. These diificulties grow out of the nature of the substance to be introduced into the bag, the necessity of introducing such substance in a small stream, the disposition ef the material to assume peculiar positions within the bag during the process of filling, the tendency of the material to lie in a loose. unpacked condi- 251 tion within the bag, and the disposition of the valve,

when one is used, to remain open after the bag is filled. and thus to cause leakage. There are various other causes which lead to difficulties in attempting to fill such bags.

In this present specification I present a process of my invention which embraces some or all of the various steps hereinafter described, and which process is intended to be applicable to the matter of filling valve bags, or bags having small apertures which are not protected by valves, so far as ,the process or its several steps may be applicable to both of such conditions. I

I have diagrammatically, as it were, illustrated such portions of a mechanism which may be utilized to bring about the desired result. This mechanism is the subject matter of a separate patent, and is illustrated tinted. These devices are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a side elevation of an apparatus [or carrying out my process, the bag being empty and ready to be filled. Fi 2 is a similar view where the ba is practically filled. Fig. 3 is a similar view where the bag has been disengaged from the filling tube. Fig. 4 is a detail section through the valve aperture and tube. Fig. 5 is a detail view from within the bag, of the valve and tube. I

I have also from time to time carefully consid- I Like parts are indicated by the same letter in all the .tigures.

A is the platform on which the bag rests. B is a pitanan to support the same: i

(l is an eccentric connected with the pitman on the shaft D. which is driven by means of the pulley E and the belt F. so as to imparl a rapid. vibratory motion to the platform on which the bag rests.

G is avalve closer or bag discharger, for in this case it performs both functions.

His the supply hopper from which leads a pipe .I to the centrifugal feeder K, consisting of a compartment and a centrifugal rotating device L therein.

M is the feed tube connected with the feeding compartment and provided with the long opening N. This tube is preferably formed in the shape of a quill, diagonally cut.

0 O are the two folds of a valve which form the valve to protect the filling opening in the upper right hand corner of the bag, as illustrated in the figures.

P is the bag. I A 7 It will be understood that any kind of a hopper can be used; any kind of feeder can be employed, though I prefer a feeder which will deliver the stream at a coinparativcly high velocity; any kind of a filling tube may be employed, though I prefer a tube which will discharge far within the bag, and preferably from a diagonally arranged mouth, as indicated; any kind of a bag support may be employed. though I prefer one which will agitate the bag; any kind of a bag discharging device may be used, though I prefer toassign to the valve closing device the bag discharging function", and any kind of a bag closing device may be used which will operate externally to the bag to close the valve.

One feature of my process is the introduction of the material into the bag in a stream delivered tangentially to the mass of material within the ba g; rather than directly against such mass of material.

Another feature of nry'proce'ss is the introduction of the material in a stream which is parallel to the folds of the valve or the walls of the filling opening, when they lie in a normal condition.

Another feature of my process is the inward deilvery of the material to the far side of the bagQor to a point relatively removed from the filling aperture.

Another feature of my process is the delivery of the material within the ba g throigh an opening larger than the cross section of the stream of material introduced through the filling opening.

Another feature of my process is the supporting of the upper end of the bag from within the bag itself.

Another icnl ure of my process is the closing of the lips of the filling passage by external means.

Another feature of my process is the delivery of the irig passage.

material inside the bag in such way that the pressure of the mass of material tends to close the lips of the filling' passage.

Another feature o my process is the simultaneous closing of the passage way and the withdrawal of the feed tube.

Another feature of my process is the simultaneous discharge pf the bag and the closure of the feed passage,

the filling tube, preferably under relatively high ve locity. The filling tribe enters the passage in a normal manner, without distorting or moving the lips ofthe passage. If the filling tube is inserted so as to distort or strain the lips of the passage the result would be that when the tube is withdrawn, the lips of the passage, and particularly if it be a valve passage, are drawn outwardly, as they'may tend to adhere to'the tube. It will sometimes happen that a valve passage will be turned inside out, and thus, of course, the bag be rendered valueless. Byinserting the tube so that it will be parallel with the walls of the passage when they lie in their normal position, no such action takes place, but the tube is free to be inserted or withdrawn. By discharging at the far end of the tube and having the tube project well into the bag, it is clear that the danger of filling up the mouth of the tube is greatly obviated. By having a large opening this danger is still further obviated, and a freer sage and in the manner suggested, I have described as and easier delivery within the bag effected.

. By having the passage arranged, for example, as indicated, and by having the tube enter thesame tangentially to the mass of material, a tangential delivery within the bag is obtained. This permits the material to be freely discharged without having an'impact' upon the mass of material within, and also permits a large delivery from the side of the tube toward the mass of material. This delivery within the bag is substantially at right angles to the delivery into the'bag.

The delivery of the material through the feeding pasa tangentialdelivery; meaning thereby to indicate that the line of travel of thestreamof material, so to speak, is tangential to the mass of material within the bag. l have applied the term parallelism of feed and passage to indicate the feedingofa stream of material through the passage parallel to its walls when theylie in their normal position. I have described the action of delivery of material far within the bag as inward delivery, as distinguished from the delivery at or near the passage, which is directly toward the, mass of ma terial within the bag.

l have alluded to the fact that I desire to discharge the material within the bag through a large opening as compared with the cross section of the stream of material passing through the feeding aperture, as large delivery. In a process of fillingbf this kind, it is of purpose of closing the fill course necessary tolsupport the bag at its'upper end. Any attempt to do this from without is very likely to result in injuring or destroying the fabric of the bag. especially when, asisoften the case, this fabric is of flimsy materal. I have therefore employed as part of and this I call the inward support of the bag. This, of course, permits the bag to move without any danget of injury to it, since the support engages but one .side of the wall of the bag and that the inside, and 1 may use any simple device to hold the bag on to its support but the support is effected from within. V It is necessary, of course, when the bag is filled, to close its filling aperture, and this can be effected from within by pressure exerted through the material within meaning thereby to indicate means for mechanically forcing the lips of the filling passage together. But the 'complished by the inward pressure of the material, and this pressure may be brought about by the inward delivefy of the material as suggested above. Obviously, if the material is delivered on the opposite side of the bag from thepoint wh e it enters, and under consider able pressure, the ten ency will be to fill up the bag against the lower inner wall of the filling opening, which will thus, by the pressure of the material, be forced .up against the filling tube. If the material is forced into the bag with any considerable degree of pressure, this action will be decidedly strong, and may be so strong that when a tube is withdrawn the walls of the passage will be forced together. 4 This will certainly result to a very great degree by the settling down of the bag under the conditions 'of filling as described, when the tube has been withdrawn and the upper support of the bag removed. This is what I have meant by the term inner pressure closure as'it is forced into the bag, oras the bag settles when released at the top. I have used the expression simultaneous closure and withdrawal to indicate that portion of my process by which this closure of the bag, whether by external ,or internal means, or-both, is effected simultaneously with the withdrawal of the fillpassage way are closed around its retreating end and the passage is entirely closed the instant the tube is withdrawn.

There is one element which may be used in my process which consists in simultaneously discharging the bag from its support and carrying on the process above suggested In other words, it is the simultaneous withdrawal of the tube and discharge of the bagfor the simultaneous withdrawal of the tube, discharge of the bag and closure of the feed passage. For the purpose of further assuring the proper closure of the passage I discharge of the bag by inversion, that is, the filling of the bag at the top and its discharge in such manner that". the top portion will strike the receiving table first, and thus cause the weight of the material within the bag to close the filling passage.

.1 have shown my process as applied to a valve bag, but it can certainly to a great extent be profitably ap my process a means for holding the bag from within,

the bag, or from without. The latter process I have in- I dicated by the general expression external closure,

closure of'the valve may be more or less perfectly ac-- mean mg a pressure exerted by or through 'the material I ing tube, sothat as the latterretrats the walls of the have included as a possible element of my process, the

plied to other than valve bags, and particularly to bags having small filling apertures which are arrangedthe others, and that thus some of the important tea-- tures ofmy invention may be used without employing v the others.

I claim: I

1. The process of producing an' inclosed package ofloose, granular or powdery material which consists in forcibly discharginglnto the top of the bag from a substantially horizontal feed tube and through a valve adapted to inclose said feed tube, such loose, granular 0rpowdery material, feeding the material into the bag through such tuhe until the material within the bag applies pressure to the inner side-0f the inner lip of the valve, and then withdrawing the tube. r

2. The process of producing an in'closed package of loose granular for powdery material which consists in 'making'a bag with a valve controlled opening, inserting' through such valve controlled opening a tuberadapted to separate the lips of the valvefeedi'nglthe material into the bag through such-tubeuntll the material within the bag applies pressure to the inner side oi the inner lip of the valve, then withdrawing the tube; then applying pressure to'the outside of the bag near the valve to seat the valve more firmly. 4

3 The process of producing an inclosed package of loose granular or powdery material whichconsist's in making :a bag with a "valve controlled opening, inserting throughsuch valve controlled openlng a tube adapted to separate the lips of the valve, feeding the material .into

the bag' through such tube until the material within the bag applies pressure to the inner'side of the inner lip of the valve, then simultaneously withdrawlng'the tube to permit the lips of the valve to come togetherand applying externalpressure to thebag near the valve.

ADELMER M. BATES.

Witnesses: v

Gno, D. ADAMS, v H. S. BAHNEY. 

